The 43rd time Diao Chan sees things and feels emotions, Wang Yun recommends a clever strategy.

  After Wang Yun returned home, the first thing he did was to apologize to Diao Chan.

  Diao Chan's eyes welled up with tears as she said, "I don't blame my foster father. In these chaotic times, it's not easy to live a simple life like ordinary villagers."

  Wang Yun still said with great guilt: "Father, you shouldn't have used your lifelong happiness as a bargaining chip to deal with Dong Zhuo's treachery. I hope that husband of yours will treat you well from now on."

  Diao Chan gently dabbed away the tears at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and said, "I've heard that this horseman has the bravery of a thousand men and is also able to sympathize with his subordinates. He should not be a rough and unrefined person."

  Wang Yun saw that Diaochan had a good impression of the horseman, so he took the opportunity to say: "This time, my father went to Wuwei and met the horseman. He is indeed a man of great talent and appearance, far surpassing those ordinary people. This is also one of the reasons why my father agreed to marry you to him without your consent. Now the world is in chaos, and the great house is about to collapse. My father thinks that the horseman is a rare person who can support the country."

  Diao Chan said with some shyness: "I just don't know what he's like now?"

  Wang Yun burst out laughing and said, "He is now the governor of Wuwei and the Marquis of Guannei. His previous battle at Jieyin had already made his name known throughout the world. Looking around today's universe, such a young talent is not often seen. However, he has not yet reached adulthood and encountered a turbulent situation, you two are likely to have a long way to go."

  Diao Chan was taken aback, as if she had something on her mind. For someone who had never seen this legendary figure before, she had already secretly developed feelings for him. Apart from that, there were also worries and unease. After all, in such a chaotic world, any factor could make the two of them thousands of miles apart.

  Wang Yun never expected that Diao Chan did not have any objection, and immediately took out the token of love given to her by Ma Chao, saying: "The jade pendant that you let your adoptive father wear on his body, your adoptive father has already taken it as a token of love and given it to Ma Chao. And this sachet is what he gave you as a token of love."

  Diao Chan slowly stretched out her hand to take the sachet, a refreshing fragrance wafted into her heart. She carefully opened the sachet and found that it contained a strand of green silk tied with a red string.

  In front of her godfather, she didn't dare to take out that lock of black hair either, and could only say: "The words of the matchmaker, the orders of parents, since Godfather has already promised his daughter to that horse husband, the daughter has nothing more to say."

  Wang Yun saw her looking anxious and shy, and smiled: "Good! With a righteous daughter like you, even if I die, I can smile in the nine springs."

  Diao Chan heard him say this and immediately became angry: "Uncle, can you bear to abandon us and not care about us?"

  Wang Yundao said: "Just kidding, just kidding. From now on, your father may be busier, you should take good care of his brothers."

  Diao Chan knew he had more important things to attend to, and as a girl from a good family she didn't dare ask too many questions. All she could do was nod understandingly, then take care of her adoptive father's several sons.

  Ever since Wang Yun was promoted to Minister of Works by Emperor Xian, his mansion had indeed become a bustling place, with people coming and going day and night.

  Wang Yun also changed his usual cautious and careful attitude, opened the front door of the Wang Mansion, and treated all those who came to congratulate him as honored guests.

  One day, Taifu Huang Wan and Shangshu Zheng Gongye came to the Wang Mansion, both speaking of King Wang's excessive indulgence in a certain matter.

  Wang Yun stroked his beard and smiled, saying: "You two need not worry. This time, I have risked my life to return from Xiliang, and in the face of the Emperor's reward, I should be proud. If I were still as cautious as before, it would surely arouse Dong Zhuo's suspicion. He will definitely suspect that I am secretly colluding with Ma Teng and others, and thus our great plan will be difficult to succeed."

  Huang Wan shook her head and said: "But in this way, every day receiving congratulations from all officials, it's a bit too ostentatious!"

  Wang Yun said: "In this way, Dong bandit will not be suspicious. Regarding this matter, you two do not need to say more, all the consequences will be borne by me."

  Zheng Gongyi said: "Alright, Wang Situ, you can do as you think. But I don't know when you plan to mention the matter of recommending Yang Zan and promoting Shi Sunrui to the Emperor."

  Wang Yun smiled and said, "Time waits for no man. Tomorrow morning we will present this matter to the Emperor. Now that Li Jue and Guo Si have been defeated and are being reused by Dong Zhuo, we can use this opportunity to recommend Yang Chuan and Shi Sun Rui, and cultivate local forces. Although Dong Zhuo is obstinate, he should understand how to block the mouths of gossipers."

  Having said that, Huang Wan and Zheng Gongyi had no disagreement, so they each returned to their own mansion.

  The next morning, Dong Zhuo, who was late, wore a precious sword and walked to the middle of the court: "Ma Teng has been reporting on the war every day since he went out. So far, he hasn't lost or won, what's going on?"

  Zheng Gongyi said: "Ma Teng has been galloping on the battlefield for many years, and he has his own way of leading troops to fight. He must be waiting for an opportunity to take action. The Qiang barbarians have always been a scourge on the northern border of our great Han dynasty. It's not a sudden chill that freezes three feet of ice. Ma Teng's army will surely engage in a protracted war with the Qiang barbarians this time, so please don't worry, Premier Dong."

  At that time, Zhonglang Jiang, the Marquis of Duting, Lü Bu stood on one side and heard Zheng Gongyi say this. He immediately said: "The humble Qiang Hu is not worth mentioning. Bu thought that Ma Teng was intentionally delaying and deceiving the emperor!"

  Emperor Xian of Han saw that things were not going well and hastily said: "This matter will be decided after sending someone to investigate the actual situation."

  Dong Zhuo burst out laughing and said: "Since the Emperor has already spoken, let's discuss this later. Do any of you officials have anything else to report to His Majesty? If not, let's disperse early, my stomach has been growling for a while now."

  The officials faced Dong Zhuo's words, no one dared to laugh, they all looked at each other in dismay.

  As Dong Zhuo turned his cumbersome body around and prepared to leave, Wang Yun suddenly stepped forward and said: "Please stay a moment, Minister Dong!"

  Dong Zhuo turned around and glanced at Wang Yun, saying: "Wang, the Imperial Tutor, why don't you hurry back home to entertain the guests from all sides? What's the point of calling me?"

  Wang Yun smiled and said: "Let Dong Zhuo see a joke."

  Dong Zhuo said somewhat impatiently, "What is it? Speak quickly, speak quickly."

  Wang Yun said: "I beg to report to Your Majesty, Yang Chuan and Shi Sun Rui are exceptionally brave and have repeatedly achieved military merits. They should be promoted. I am willing to recommend Yang Chuan as the Left General, and nominate Shi Sun Rui as the Governor of Nanyang. I also ask for your approval."

  As for this matter, Emperor Xian of Han did not dare to make a decision on his own, he looked at Dong Zhuo.

  Dong Zhuo walked up to Wang Yun, his face expressionless, and said: "Who are Yang Chuan and Shi Sunrui? What military achievements do they have? How is it that you don't know anything about them?"

  Wang Yun had long expected Dong Zhuo's reaction and hastily said: "Li Jue and Guo Si, who are on their way to Yangzhou, can testify!"

  Dong Zhuo was taken aback, and suddenly understood Wang Yun's intention. He leaned in close to Wang Yun and said: "Alright, thanks to the reminder from Wang, the Prime Minister, I have remembered again. Your Majesty, you may grant his request."

  Wang Yun didn't breathe a sigh of relief until he heard these words.

  As Dong Zhuo returned to the prime minister's residence, Li Ru immediately said: "I heard that Wang Yun recommended two people who were loyal to him in the imperial court today. How did the Prime Minister agree? Once we let Wang Yun's men take control of local power, we are in danger!"

  Dong Zhuo took a sip of fine wine and said, "What kind of waves can Wang Yun, such a small role, stir up? Besides, I've never heard of Yang Zan and Shi Sunrui before. I reckon they're not capable of much, nothing to worry about."

  Li Ru said somewhat anxiously: "Although it's like this, we can't help but be on guard."

  "Don't worry!" Dong Zhuo patted Li Ru's shoulder and had him sit down to enjoy the delicacies with him.

  Li Ru bowed three times to thank him, and then sat down with a humble and fearful expression. Dong Zhuo saw his appearance, stretched out his hand, twisted a chicken leg and threw it in front of him, saying: "You are too cautious! Now the emperor is in my hands, how dare they be presumptuous? Come on, come on, have a drink with me. If it weren't for you, Ma Teng and Ma Fu would have made Western Liang restless."

  Li Ru could no longer decline, and had to accompany him in drinking. When he saw Dong Zhuo already drunk and fast asleep, Li Ru took the initiative to find Lü Bu: "Director Dong is now busy with millions of things, it's really too tiring, please ask General Lü to take the initiative to investigate Yang Chuan and Shi Sunrui."

  Lü Bu, who was wiping the Flat Heaven Halberd, turned his head and glared at Li Ru, saying: "Sir, isn't it a bit too cautious? An unknown minor character, what's worth mentioning?"

  Seeing both father and son were like this, Li Ru could only helplessly shake his head and return to his own mansion.

  After successfully recommending Yang Zan and Shi Sunrui, Wang Yun was overjoyed. That night, he set up a banquet in the inner hall to entertain Huang Quan and Zheng Gongyi.

  Wang Yundao said: "Now on the road to eliminating bandits, we have taken a big step forward. If the next step can be implemented smoothly, then Dong Zei will surely die."

  Huang Wan and Zheng Gongyi asked in a hurry what to do next.

  When the slaves and maids had all gone down, Wang Yun said: "According to what I know, when that Dong bandit first arrived in Luoyang, he appointed you, Yuan Shu of Yunnan, as General of the Rear, but because you were afraid of disaster and fled to Nanyang, that Dong bandit has been harboring hatred in his heart ever since, boasting that if he captures you, Yuan Shu, he will definitely have you torn into ten thousand pieces."

  Huang Wan suddenly interrupted Wang Yun, saying: "You're not referring to Yuan Shao's brother, Yuan Shu, who was previously the Hu Ben Zhonglang General? The Yuan family has produced 'four generations of three dukes', and even that Dong bandit gave them a third of his territory. Does the Duke of Wang want to start by dealing with the Yuan family?"

  Wang Yun shook his head and said, "Of course, we cannot take the lead in dealing with the Yuan family. I will memorialize to His Majesty to let Shi Sunrui, the newly appointed governor of Nanyang, attack Yuan Shu under the name of punishing him for disobeying the imperial edict. Dong Zhuo has long been resentful of Yuan Shu and will certainly support it. In fact, I will order Shi Sunrui to lead his troops out of Wuguan Pass to prepare for a multi-pronged attack on Dong Zhuo."

  "This move is so high! This move is so high!" Zheng Gongye clapped his hands in praise.

  But Wang Yun continued: "This is just a small trick, the real show is yet to come?"

  As soon as Wang Yun's words fell, Huang and Zheng both cast curious glances at him.

  Wang Yun said calmly, "Now Yang Feng has been promoted to Left General and can control some military power within Luoyang City. I will instruct him to secretly nurture dead soldiers, waiting for my orders, and take action when the time is right. After all this is achieved, we will inform Ma Teng and others, let them lead their troops eastward, and then we will launch a surprise attack from inside and outside, why worry about not destroying Dong Zhuo?"

  Huang and Zheng were deeply impressed, then Huang Wan expressed his doubts: "Although Wang Zitu has formed an alliance with Ma Teng and Ma Chao through a blood oath, what if Ma Teng does not come south? Wouldn't we be trapped in the midst of Dong Zhuo's heavily armed forces?"

  Wang Yun smiled and said, "As for this, General Huang need not worry. As long as I give the order, Ma Teng will definitely rush to the rescue of Luoyang. I have never misjudged anyone..."